2.7 million domestic and foreign visitors expected over Songkran holiday

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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is projecting that this year’s Songkran festival holiday will generate 2.7 million domestic and foreign visitors and estimated expenditures of 11.1 billion baht, up respectively 10% and 20% over the numbers recorded in the 2012 Songkran holiday. TAT research shows that hotel occupancies in major tourist destinations such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Pattaya are already reported at over 70%. International arrivals are also up. A total of 177 charter flights (about 31,973 seats) are scheduled to arrive from major markets such as China and Russia during the Songkran festival.

The projected visitor arrivals this month are expected to go a long way towards helping meet the TAT’s visitor arrival target of 24.09 million in 2013. So far, the trend is good. In January-February, visitor arrivals to Thailand totalled 4.56 million, up 18.8% over the same period last year. During 1- 27 March 2013, international visitor arrivals just at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport totalled 1,230,296 up 11.93 % over the same period of 2012.

Domestic travel is due to thousands of people leaving Bangkok to return for family visits in their provincial hometowns or to participate in the “Songkran Splendour 2013” festivals being held in 12 provinces — Chiang Mai, Suphan Buri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Sukhothai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Phuket:

• Bangkok- (12-16 April)
• Old City Songkran Festival, Ayutthaya – (13-16 April)
• Suphan Buri Songkran Festival – (11-14 April)
• Chon Buri Songkran Festival – (13-21 April, depending on location)
• Phra Padaeng Songkran Festival, Samut Prakan Province – (19-21 April)
• Chiang Mai Songkran Festival – (7 -16 April, depending on location)
• Sukhothai Songkran Festival – (6-14 April, depending on location)
• Thai – Lao New Year’s Merit Ceremony & Nakhon Phanom Songkran Festival – (8-15 April)
• Top Isan Songkran, Dok Khun Festival – (8-15 April)
• Isan Nong Khai Songkran Festival – (6-17 April)
• Hat Yai Midnight Songkran – (11-14 April)
• Songkran on Phuket Beach – (10-15 April)
• Nakhon Sri Thammarat’s Nang Dan Procession in Songkran – (11-15 April)

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